Best Daycares in Ellicott City, MD — Independent Quality Ratings
Of Ellicott City's 99 daycares, 67 (68%) hold a 4 or 5 star rating from Childery, above Maryland's statewide rate of 63%. Locally, providers average 2.9 stars on Process inputs (state QRIS, NAEYC and other accreditation, federal Head Start CLASS scores) and 4.9 stars on Structural inputs (state regulatory baseline plus provider-level licensing data), compared with Maryland averages of 2.9 on Process and 4.9 on Structural.
The local market includes 42 centers and 45 family child care homes, a lower home-based share than Maryland's average of 56%.
Listed alphabetically below are some of the highest-rated providers in Ellicott City. Childery ranks providers using publicly auditable inputs: state QRIS scores, NAEYC-aligned ratios and group sizes, and federal CCDBG training coverage. See the Maryland methodology page for the full breakdown.
Rating Distribution in Ellicott City
Mean rating across all displayed daycares in Ellicott City: 4.1 (Sample of 99).
Process rating across all displayed daycares in Ellicott City: 2.9 (Sample of 52).
Structural rating across all displayed daycares in Ellicott City: 4.9 (Sample of 99).
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Frequently Asked Questions
- How many licensed daycares are in Ellicott City?
- There are 99 licensed child care providers in Ellicott City.
- What percentage of Ellicott City daycares have high quality ratings?
- 68% of Ellicott City daycares hold 4 or 5 stars on Childery's composite rating, compared to 63% statewide in Maryland.
- What types of childcare are available in Ellicott City?
- 42 center-based, 45 home-based providers operate in Ellicott City.
- How do Ellicott City daycares score on teaching quality compared to the rest of Maryland?
- Ellicott City daycares average 2.9 out of 5 stars on Childery's Process score (teaching quality, QRIS ratings, and accreditations), compared to a Maryland statewide average of 2.9.
- Is there financial help for childcare in Maryland?
- Maryland offers childcare subsidies and assistance programs for income-eligible families. See income limits, waitlist status, and how to apply.Childcare subsidies in Maryland